The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named Terry Walde of Searcy Trucking, Deshown Moye of Melton Truck Lines, and Heather Barkey of Nussbaum Transportation as the 2025 Highway Angels of the Year, following a public vote recognizing their acts of courage and compassion on the road.
The three drivers will be honored during an awards luncheon on March 2 at TCA’s annual convention in Orlando, Fla.
Terry Walde
Walde, a veteran driver of Winnipeg, Man.-based Searcy Trucking, was traveling eastbound on Highway 1 in Saskatchewan on May 27, 2025, when he encountered debris on the roadway. He soon found a severely injured cyclist who had been struck in a hit-and-run involving a semi-truck.
The cyclist had sustained serious injuries including a broken leg, ribs, and collarbone. He was lying on the side of the road, struggling to breathe. Walde stopped immediately, assessed the cyclist’s condition and communicated critical injury details to emergency responders. Recognizing the ongoing danger posed by passing traffic, Walde directed vehicles around the scene for several hours until authorities arrived. Dashcam footage provided by Searcy Trucking later helped law enforcement apprehend and charge the responsible driver, TCA said in a news release.
Deshown Moye
Moye, who drives for Melton Truck Lines out of Tulsa, Okla., was driving through Alabama on April 28 last year, when he came upon the aftermath of a major crash on Interstate 65. A small sedan had been forced beneath a tractor-trailer, leaving the driver critically injured and trapped.
Moye stopped and assessed the scene for hazards before calling 911 and rushing to assist the injured woman. He stabilized her injuries relieved pressure from her seatbelt with her consent, and remained by her side for nearly 45 minutes until emergency responders arrived.
Heather Barkey
Barkey is a truck driver for Nussbaum Transportation, out of Hudson, Ill. She was nearing her terminal in Mount Vernon, Ill., late in the evening on June 18 when she saw a rolled-over truck. Noticing no one else had stopped, she pulled over, activated her hazard lights, and contacted emergency services.
The overturned truck was smoking and leaking fuel, and the driver was trapped inside. Using a flashlight she had on hand, Barkey broke the window, enabling the driver to escape before conditions worsened. She remained on the scene until law enforcement arrived and confirmed the driver was safe.
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